Continuous record forms



Dec. 9, 1969 E JQHNSEN 3,482,780

CONTINUOUS RECORD FORMS Filed April 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill Main Sl.

I XYZ Cumpuny Dec. 9, 1969 E. L. JoHNsEN CONTINUOUS RECORD FORMS `2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1968 /NvENroR EDWARD L. JOHNSEN vl B United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 229-69 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The continuous paper web comprising a long succession of record forms or business forms, has applied thereto longitudinal lines of dry sealing adhesive which are offset laterally so that upon accordian folding of the forms, the lines of adhesive on adjacent forms will not register with one another and thereby cause adherence of one form to another. However, when any form is severed from the web as a unit and folded upon itself along a median fold line, the same dry sealing adhesive lines will be in position to register with one another for sealing opposite ends of the form or unit. Other lines of adhesive applied diagonally of a line of severance between adjacent units, are ineffective to seal upon one another upon accordian folding of the web units, but these diagonal lines will register one with another when a unit is folded upon itself, to seal a remaining edge of the unit. All adhesive lines are located upon tabs which easily may be severed from the unit for gaining access to data normally concealed within the form or unit.

The present invention relates to continuous record forms, `business forms or the like, and a method of manufacturing the same. Forms of the type herein disclosed are produced initially as long Webs or strips of paper, which if desired, may bear printed lines and/or data on one or both faces thereof. The web or strip carries also an adhesive of the dry sealing type, which after drying in place upon the paper web, will not stick to other portions of the web, but will adhere tenaciously to any surface carrying the same kind of adhesive. That is to say, the adhesive referred to is one which when dry will adhere only to itself. Such adhesive will be referred to hereinafter as an adhesive of the dry sealing type, which is well known in the art.

The continuous web or strip may be provided with one or rnore rows of marginal perforations to engage the teeth of sprockets or the like which advance the web through data applying machinery. The marginal perforations are of no particular concern to the present invention, however, if the forms of the web are to be filled in otherwise than by means of automatic machinery.

An object of the invention is to provide a continuous paper web upon which a record form is reproduced repeatedly, successive forms each having two adhesive treated foldable sections which in coplanar relationship, will not stick to the sections of adjacent forms when accordian folded for subsequent use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of the character stated, which after the application of desired data, may be conveniently, quickly, and easily detached from the web and folded and sealed to produce a sealed unit ready for distribution by mailing or otherwise.

Another object is to provide a form system of the character stated, wherein the risk of spoiling any of the forms and interfering with production schedules in the processing thereof, is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide for application of dry sealing adhesive to a form web in a man- 3,482,780 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 r, Y. 1C@

ner such as to facilitate and expedite form handling, processing, and assembly as a finished unit, with great economy and perfection.

The foregoing and other objects are attained rby the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view showing a record form in the at, `comprising two sections which constitute a unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a web or succession of forms, printed and supplied with adhesive in accordance with the present invention, some of the forms being accordian stacked.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a succession of forms, one being shown folded upon the next, without risking unwanted adhesive joinder.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a form in the process of folding and sealing to produce a completed unit.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the FIG. 4 unit with perforated margins removed, and ready for distribution by mailing or otherwise.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the unit stripped of its adhesive side edges and one end, to afford ready access to the inner faces of the form which may bear data or a message.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modification.

With reference to FIG. 2, the paper web of any length may be produced on one or more machines which establish a uniform width of the web, punch marginal rows of perforations 10 and 12 therein, and window openings 14, establish score lines and tear perforations, and apply lines of adhesive to the web. Preferably, though not of necessity, the web may be printed or ruled on one face or on both faces thereof, as may be required. By way of example, printing is depicted at 16 and 18, on opposite faces of the web.

A single form, or unit, may comprise two panels 20 and 22, which eventually are to 'be folded one upon the other according to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The panel 20 may be referred to as the front panel, since by viewing it directly, one sees through the window 14 thereof, the name and address of an addressee. The remaining panel 22 forms the `back section of the unit when folded, and may properly be referred to as the back panel.

A unit consisting of a front panel 20 and a back panel 22, is deined by spaced parallel lines of perforations, or tear lines 24 and 26, which extend transversely across the web from edge to edge thereof. Approximately midway between the tear lines 24 and 26 is a fold line 28, upon which the panels may be folded to produce the assembled unit of FIG. 4. The fold line 28 extends fully across the web, by preferen-ce, and is parallel to the tear lines 24 and 26. Fold line 28, if desired, may be a perforated tear line although it will ordinarily rbe utilized only for folding of the panels accurately one upon the other as in FIG. 4.

The printed area 16, which may appear on one or both panels 2t), 22 of a form unit, is adapted for the orderly application of figures or data by means of a form unit, is adapted for the orderly application of figures or data by means of a data processing machine, typewriter, or other printing device. Area 16, it will be noted, is concealed within the unit `when folded according to FIG. 4, wherefore said area 16 is properly regarded as an area on the inside face of a panel or panels. The opposite faces of the panels are properly regarded as the outside faces of the panels, since they are exposed to View when the form is folded to the FIG. 4 condition. In the example illustrated, FIG. 4, the printed matter 18 is on the outside face of panel 20; and the printed name and address seen through window 14, is applied on the inside face of panel 22, at the location 30.

On FIGS. 2 and 3, long narrow lines of adhesive are 3 indicated by the reference numerals 32, 32A, and 34, 34A, these lines of adhesive being parallel to and spaced from opposite side edges of the web. Each of said long lines of adhesive ends within its own unit, but may meet an oblique line of adhesive 44 at tear lines 36 and 38, as will later be explained. The adhesive is of the dry sealing type, as previously noted.

One unit or form, for example the foremost unit of FIG. 2, the line of adhesive 32 is rather close tothe nearest side edge of the web, whereas the opposite line of adhesive 34 is somewhat farther spaced from its adjacent side edge of the web. On the next adjacent unit or form, a contrary condition prevails; that is, the line of adhesive 32A is relatively remote from the nearest side edge of the web, whereas the opposite line of adhesive 34A is relatively close to its adjacent side edge of the web. Otherwise stated, the line of adhesive 32 is offset from the line of adhesive 32A, so that upon folding the foremost unit along line 24 to overlie the next adjacent unit (see FIG. 3), the adhesive line 32 will not register with adhesive line 32A, and accordingly, there will be no sticking together of the units. At the opposite edge of the web, the same conditon occurs, that is, adhesive line 34 will not register with line 34A and adhere thereto.

The offsetting of the longitudinal adhesive lines is alternated along the Whole length of the web, so that the web may be accordian folded and stacked as at S, and with successive forms in full flatwise contact upon one another, without risk of unwanted sealing occurring between successive forms.

Accordingly, by way of example, the foremost unit of FIG. 2 may be severed from the web along the first tear line 24. The unit severed will comprise two panels 20 and 22. It is noted that the longitudinal adhesive lines of the unit panels 20 and 22, will register one With the other if panel 20 is folded onto panel 22, as in FIG. 4, thereby to seal the two panels together near the perforated margins thereof. In like manner, all successive units of the web may be manipulated to produce a sealed unit,

this to be done after data has been applied at least to an inside face of one or both panels of the unit.

In a preferred construction, perforated tear lines 36 and 38 may be provided flanking the tear lines 26 and 24 in spaced parallelism, the lines 36 and 38 being spaced substantially equidistantly from the line between them. Lines 36 and 38 may terminate at the marginal strips 10 and 12, by preference, and each defines a narrow transverse opener tab 40. The opener tabs are to be spot-glued together, as will be explained, and are to be severed from the unit according to the suggestion of FIGS. and 6, for gaining access to the interior of the unit.

As is best illustrated by FIG. 3, each opener tab area between tear lines 36 and 38 has applied thereto narrow short lines 42, 42 of dry sealing adhesive, and these lines of adhesive are diagonal to the length of tabs 40 as shown. Each diagonal line of adhesive is confined between the tab tear lines 36 and 38, and will meet said tear lines at an angle of 45 degrees more or less, the angle being not at all critical. Similar narrow short lines of adhesive 44, 44 may be applied angularly to the tabs, for connecting the ends 45 and 47 of offset longitudinal lines of adhesive carried by successive units of the web. The adhesive lines 44 are substantially parallel to one another, due to the offset relationship existing between the adhesive lines 32 and 32A, and those identified as 34 and 34A.

The short adhesive lines 42, 42, while shown parallel to the adhesive lines 44, are not necessarily parallel thereto, nor need they be disposed at the same angularity. It is necessary only that the adhesive borne by one tab 40 be offset from the adhesive of the adjacent tab, so that the lines or spots of adhesive 42 will not coincide with one another when one form unit is folded onto an adjacent unit as depicted at the accordian folds of FIG.

2, or at the lower end of FIG. 3. Unless the lines of adhesive 42, 42, or 44, 44, coincide with one another in a substantial degree, no substantial joinder of units of the web can occur. It will therefore be appreciated that the web units can be accordian folded as in FIG. 2, without risk of adjacent units sticking together along the longitudinal adhesive lines, nor at the tab adhesive lines 42 or 44. The tab adhesive lines may have mere spots of adhesive substituted therefor if desired, but such spots would be offset relatively so as not to register with one another incident to a fold being made on a tear line such as 24, or 26.

Assuming now that a -unit be severed from the right end of the web in FIG. 2, along tear line 24, such unit will consist of two panels 20 and 22. These two panels can be folded along line 28 into llatwise contact, and the longitudinal lines of adhesive on these panels will register with one another to seal shut the opposite ends of the unit along the perforate strips 10 and 12. Also, the short lines of adhesive at 42, 42, and 44, 44, along edge 26, will register fully with t-he corresponding short lines of adhesive along the line 24, to effect a seal along the tabs 40, of the unit according to FIG. 4. That is to say, on FIG. 4 the tab adhesive lines at 42, 42 and 44, 44 adhesively join the panels 20 and 22 along the unit edge opposite to the fold line 28.

After sealing of the one side and both ends of the FIG. 4 unit as above explained, the perforated marginal strips 10 and 12 may be torn off along the tear lines 46 and 48, to produce the structure of FIG. 5 ready for mailing or distribution. Upon receipt of the piece in FIG. 5 form, the recipient may easily gain access to the data appearing inside the panels, by removing the tab strips 40 along the tear line 36, and also the unit end tabs defined by tear lines and 52.

The perforated tear lines 50 and 52 are disposed parallel to and inwardly of the longitudinal lines of adhesive which extend lengthwise of the web, so that removal of the unit end tabs results also in removal of the applied adhesive which normally closes the ends of a unit. The unit end tabs are identified by the numerals S4 and 56.

The FIG. 7 modification is quite similar to FIG. 3, but differs therefrom in that the longitudinal lines of adhesive 32 and 32A are not connected at adjacent ends thereof, nor are the adhesive lines 34 and 34A connected at adjacent ends, in the region of tear lines 24 and 26. Another distinction is, that in offsetting the longitudinal adhesive lines at opposite margins of the web, the spacing between lines 32 and 34 of FIG. 7 is greater than the spacing be` tween lines 32A and 34A, this being a departure from FIG. 3 which shows equal spacings between adhesive lines 32, 34 and adhesive lines 32A and 34A. The diagonal short adhesive lines 44, 44 of FIG. 3 are omitted from FIG. 7, and the intermediate diagonal adhesive lines 42 are increased in number on FIG. 7.

The number of short diagonal adhesive lines 42 employed in producing the forms or units is subject to variation, and in some cases might even be omitted, if desired. Also as a modication, the longitudinal lines of adhesive parallel to the web side margins are not necessarily continuous between the tear lines 24 and 26, but might instead be constituted of a number of short lines of adhesive disposed in end to end alignment.

In some instances, the window 14 may be eliminated, or the web may be formed without the perforated side margins 10 and 12.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuous paper-like web having parallel side marginal portions, each side marginal portion lying in a single plane, and a series of transverse tear lines spaced apart along the web to define a succession of form units each being of substantially the same size and detachable from the web along successive tear lines; a transverse fold line on the web intermediate successive ones of said tear lines, to subdivide each form unit into a front panel and a back panel having coplanar inside faces and coplanar outside faces; narrow lines of dry sealing adhesive applied to the inside faces of the panels of each unit, said lines of adhesive being spaced each from a side marginal portion of the web, and each having opposite ends terminating near a transverse tear line of the web, the lines of adhesive of one form unit being laterally olfset from the lines of adhesive of a successive form unit, so that folding of one form unit along a transverse tear line with the inside face thereof in fiatwise contact upon the inside face of a successive unit, disposes the lines of adhesive of said folded units in offset spaced parallelism and out of contact with each other, to avoid self-sealing of said contacting units upon one another, said lines of adhesive on the panels of any given unit being registerable for selfsealing incident to folding the given unit panels upon each other along one of said fold lines.

2. The continuous web as specified by claim 1, wherein the lines of adhesive of all successive form units are each located between a pair of spaced parallel tear lines extending lengthwise of the web and in parallelism with the side marginal portions thereof.

3. The continuous web as specified by claim 1, wherein the lines of adhesive of all successive form units are each located between a side marginal portion of the web and a tear line extending lengthwise and in spaced parallelism with a side marginal portion thereof.

4. The continuous web as specified by claim 1, wherein the transverse tear lines aforesaid are each flanked by parallel tear lines extending substantially from one side marginal portion to the other side marginal portion.

5. The continuous web as specified by claim 4, wherein at least one short line of dry sealing adhesive is applied to the web obliquely across each transverse tear line first mentioned and between said anking tear lines.

6. The continuous web as specified by claim 1, wherein the opposite ends of each line of adhesive on one unit are connected to an end of a line of adhesive on the next adjacent unit, by a connecting line of adhesive disposed obliquely across a transverse tear line of the web.

7. The continuous Web as specified by claim 6, wherein the transverse tear lines aforesaid are each flanked by parallel tear lines extending substantially across the width of the web; and at least one short line of dry sealing adhesive is applied to the web between said flanking tear lines, obliquely across the transverse tear line flanked thereby.

8. The continuous web as specified by claim 7, wherein the first mentioned lines of adhesive of all successive form units are each located between a pair of spaced parallel tear lines extending lengthwise of the web and in parallelism with the side marginal portions thereof.

9. The continuous web as specified by claim 7, wherein the first mentioned lines of adhesive of all successive form units are each located between a side marginal portion of the web and a tear line extending lengthwise and in spaced parallelism with a side marginal portion thereof.

10. The continuous web as specified by claim 8, wherein at least one of the side marginal portions of the web is provided with a row of equally spaced perforations.

11. The continuous web as specified by claim 7, wherein lines of adhesive obliquely disposed across the transverse tear lines of adjacent form units, are slanted in opposite directions.

12. The continuous web as specified by claim 1, wherein at least one short line of dry sealing adhesive is applied to the web obliquely across each transverse tear line first mentioned, and wherein said short lines of adhesive obliquely disposed across the transverse tear lines of adjacent form units, are slanted in opposite directions.

13. A continuous paper-like web having parallel side marginal portions, said side marginal portions each lying in a single plane, and a series of transverse tear lines spaced apart along the web to define a succession of form units detachable `from the web along successive tear lines; a transverse fold line on the web intermediate successive ones of said tear lines, to subdivide each form unit into a front panel and a back panel having coplanar inside faces and coplanar outside faces; and dry sealing adhesive means on said units extending along the edges thereof and spaced so that folding of the web along a tear line disposes one form unit in fiatwise contact upon the next adjacent Iform unit with the adhesive means thereon offset from one another to avoid self-sealing of said units together, and folding of the panels of a given form unit along the fold line of said given form unit places the panels of said given -form unit in flatwise contact, with the adhesive means thereon in registry for self-sealing.

References Cited DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner 

